I live in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and recently had a gum tree removed. The arborist recommended stump grinding, but I forgot to ask how deep the grinding actually goes. It’s early September now, and the soil is still soft from all the late-winter rain, but we’re already seeing the first bursts of warmer days. I’m wondering if stump grinding just clears the surface roots, or if it goes deep enough to stop suckers from sprouting as everything takes off in spring. Has anyone had real-world experience with this?
I had the same question after I cut down a big eucalypt in my backyard in Melbourne a couple of years ago. When the crew came out, they explained that stump grinding usually goes about 20–30cm below the surface, sometimes a bit deeper if the roots are causing trouble. In my case, it was enough to stop suckers popping up through spring and summer, though I still had a few fine roots to pull out by hand. The soft soil actually made it easier for them to get the grinder in. If you’re weighing it up, I reckon it’s worth doing because it saves headaches later on. When I was looking into grinding tree stump options, I found The Yard’s site handy for getting a sense of what to expect and rough costs – might be worth a look before you book anyone.